1 A POLITICAL HISTORY OF KENYA Dr John Mwaruvie History, Political Science and Pubic Administration Moi University P.O. Box 3900 Eldoret Kenya [email protected] Mobile- 0727 695 793 INTRODUCTION Kenya is a country of diversity just like USA. It has varied cultures and traditions. Kenya has 42 ethnic groups, but have lived peacefully except last year (2008) when post election violence erupted due to flawed election. Like US, Kenya was a colony of Great Britain from where we have borrowed various elements of governance based on British Commonwealth traditions. For instance, our legal system, and parliamentary traditions draws heavily from the British system. Like US Kenya has three arms of government namely the Executive, Legislature (parliament) and judiciary. These three arms of government are expected to operate independently for the welfare of the citizens. The Kenyan coastal region has had a long association with people from Middle East, India, China, which led to evolution of oriental culture. Islam is well entrenched at the coastal region while most of interior prescribes to Christian faith. This Islamic influence is due to many years of colonization of the coastline by the Arabs. However, religious violence experienced in other parts of the world where Islam and Christianity come into competition has not been experienced in Kenya. Kenya like US came into direct contact with Europe in the 15th Century, when the Portuguese explorers led by Vasco da Gama explored the region in 1798 and subsequently colonized The East African coastline for two hundred years. Mombasa became the headquarters of Portuguese rule which was characterized by plunder, ruthlessness and destruction of Indian Ocean trade. The Portuguese made very little attempt to convert Africans to Christianity like the Spaniards had done in the Americas. The only reminder of their presence is Fort Jesus built on five acres as their garrison and prison near Mombasa’s old port and Vasco da Gama pillar in Malindi on one acre and a cemetery, which has names of Portuguese buried in Malindi. ARAB ADMINISTRATION 1798-1895 marks a period of Oman Arab domination of the coastline of East Africa. The Arabs were invited by the Swahili people to help them liberate region from the ruthless and hated Christian domination under the Portuguese administration. However, after the conquest, the Arabs opted to stay and establish their rule. It was on the basis of the Arab2 claim of sovereignty over the region that the British and the Germans in 1886 set aside ten miles coastal strip as legitimate dominion of the sultanate of Zanzibar. This recognition of the Sultanate of Zanzibar on the East African coastline officially entrenched their right to own land within the ten mile coastline, while Africans remained as squatters. BRITISH COLONIZATION In 1895 Britain declared (what later became Kenya) East Africa Protectorate with its headquarters in Mombasa. But controlling such a vast area without modern transport system was daunting experience. Thus, 1896-1901 Uganda Railways was constructed covering a distance almost 600 miles from Mombasa to Lake Victoria. It was a costly venture at the time for £5.5 million was spent. The railway became both a blessing and a curse for the country. It was a blessing because it eased transport between the coast and the interior but a curse because it led to influx of European settlers who alienated African land and property. Questions of sustainability of the railway became the preoccupation of Sir Charles Eliot British High Commissioner 1901-1904. He thought that Africans could not produce enough goods to sustain the operation of the line and therefore thought that only white settlers would make the railway self sustaining like it had happened in Canada and New Zealand. European settlers were given land almost free to establish plantations .All land from Kiu (in Machakos) to Fort Ternan (Kericho) was declared white Highland. Only Europeans were allowed to settle in the reserved area. Result 1. Massive land alienation from Africans 2. Africans pushed to unfertile land (reserves) 3. squatter problem in white settled areas 4. racial segregation 5. Forced labor in European plantation This alienation of land and displacement of Africans from their ancestral land is the basis of post colonial conflicts experienced in Rift Valley and Coast provinces. This is part of Historical injustices that the country is trying to address after post election violence. KENYA COLONY In 1920 EAP protectorate was renamed Kenya Colony and Protectorate. Africans were opposed to the change of status and became the genesis of African nationalism. Political associations were formed to agitate for African interests. Kikuyu central Association Young Kavirondo Taxpayers Association3 OBJECTIVES • fought for inclusion into the colonial political system • rejected Kipande(identity card) registration of persons certificates • independent schools and churches to revive African culture and traditions • opposed racial segregation • opposed Hut tax • Rejected forced labor SECOND WORLD WAR Britain used propaganda to influence Africans to fight on her side. They depicted NAZISM or fascism as evil and dictatorial ideologies. Britain claimed to be interested in liberating Ethiopia from Fascist and Italy under Mussolini and therefore needed for African support to realize their goal. Ethiopia was a symbolic African kingdom for they had defeated Italian during 1896 Battle of Adowa. Ethiopia was the only African state to escape European colonization. Liberia also escaped European colonization for it was created by US Colonization Society to settle freed slaves who had assisted during the American Civil War. Liberation of Ethiopia did not end the African participation .Burma, Egypt and Palestine African American participation in Second World War and influence of Africans Atlantic Charter issued by US and Britain and it’s significant to Kenya and African nationalism ARMED STRUGGLE AND ROAD TO INDEPENDENCE. Just like US Africans staged armed struggle against domination by Great Britain. This armed struggle was led by Mau Mau liberation movement. It’s significance in liberating Kenya. (1) Made white settlers vulnerable (2) Made British government spend a lot of money to support white settlers (3) Conflict between home guards and loyalists against Mau Mau fighters and their supporters. (4) Synnerton